Denmark

Photo: Quebec Remparts forward and Anaheim Ducks prospect Nick Sorensen is one of 11 returning players from Sweden’s 2013 World Junior roster taking part in this year’s event (courtesy of Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

Injuries the past couple of seasons have limited Sweden forward Nick Sorensen's time on the ice. But, the Anaheim Ducks prospect has managed to stay healthy this season, and is taking part in his second consecutive U20 World Junior Championship.

Photo: Portland Winterhawks forward Nic Peten (R) is one of a trio of Winterhawks' players expected to have their names called early in the 2013 NHL Draft (courtesy of Marissa Baecker/Getty Images)

The current tale of the tape, Western Hockey League style, quite convincingly suggests the Portland Winterhawks will probably supply the “long and short of it” when the time comes for NHL teams to make their selections at the 2013 NHL Draft in Newark, New Jersey.

Photo: Portland Winterhawks forward Oliver Bjorkstrand has benefited from playing with other, top NHL Draft prospects on the Winterhawks' roster (courtesy of the WHL)

Like a number of CHL teams, the Portland Winterhawks have sent multiple players to the Home Hardware CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game this year. Seth Jones has received the majority of the attention as both the captain of Team Orr and one of the top draft-eligibles for the 2013 NHL Draft, while his teammate Nicolas Petan is a familiar name for prospect watchers after helping Canada win the gold at last summer's Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament.

Jannik Hansen has spent the better part of the last two seasons solidifying his role as a regular with the Vancouver Canucks. After having been in last year's Stanley Cup Finals, he’s now helping out Denmark at the 2012 World Championships in Stockholm after a disappointing first round loss to the Los Angeles Kings in this year’s NHL playoffs.

The IIHF 2012 U18 Tournament taking place in Brno, Znojmo and now Breclav, Czech Republic, kicked off yesterday. The tournament goals of northern neighbors Germany and Denmark are officially different, but on paper quite the same; somehow surprise in the uphill battle of the initial round or then avoid relegation at all costs in the relegation round. This will be no easy task for either team.